- Resource: ECDPM (European Centre for Development Policy Management) – Who We Are
- Rationale: The European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) is a leading independent think tank specializing in improving policy effectiveness in Europe and Africa for inclusive and sustainable development. Its extensive research, analysis, and engagement with Africa-Europe relations and international cooperation provide valuable broader context for understanding the policy environment, funding trends, and challenges to financial autonomy for African NGOs. Its commitment to maintaining operational autonomy through a diversified funding base also provides a relevant model for NGOs.
- Resource: T20 Africa (South African Institute of International Affairs – SAIIA)
- Rationale: This platform, hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), brings together African think tanks and their counterparts from G20 countries to foster dialogue and collaboration on global economic governance issues. Their work, including the development of policy briefs for the G20 process, can provide valuable insights into the broader international economic context that influences development finance and the operating environment of African civil society organizations.
- Resource: African Think Tanks Platform Project (World Bank)
- Rationale: This World Bank-supported project aims to establish a sustainable platform to strengthen the capacity of African think tanks to conduct effective policy research and inform policymaking on cross-border priorities in Africa. Project objectives include exploring the creation of a special fund and an endowment fund to pool resources from various African and international sources. This initiative highlights the growing recognition of the need for more robust and independent funding mechanisms for knowledge-based institutions in Africa, which may offer lessons and potential models for improving the financial sustainability of the broader NGO sector.
- Analysis: The World Bank’s active involvement in supporting the creation of a sustainable funding platform for African think tanks, including the exploration of endowments, signifies a growing recognition of the importance of building long-term financial resilience within Africa’s knowledge and civil society sectors. This approach could potentially be replicated or adapted to support other types of nongovernmental organizations working on development issues across the continent.
